Development of the Cyclops Cubesat payload

The number of CubeSat satellites launched has been increasing over the past decades. These satellites have a number of advantages: short development time, low cost, possibility of modifications for certain scientific tasks and testing of technical solutions and new developments. This article describes payloads of a small spacecraft: CubeSat 3U CYCLOPS designed by D.F.Ustinov Baltic State Technical University "Voenmeh" within grant under Space-Pi program. The purpose of the study is to create, test and study the performance of payload modules of the vehicle, built using commercially available components, under space flight conditions. The text describes the structure of interaction between the payload and the OrbCraft-Pro 3U platform from Sputnix LLC. The process of development of payload control board is considered. The control system software for mechatronic and multiaxis actuator modules with logging and error correction is described. In addition to the above-mentioned modules, the payload control system was also developed to carry out a series of experiments in the presence of a small spacecraft in orbit. The paper explains how the spacecraft communicates with the ground via special software Houston control application and Houston Telnet. The results describe tests performed on the mechanical components of the spacecraft. Examples of telemetry packets received from on-board the spacecraft are given. The article also reflects further plans for the project and the prospects of using the developed hardware for implementation in large-scale space systems and complexes. Also as part of the project students were able to gain engineering experience in the development of devices designed to work in space conditions.